8.12 Dandenong Ranges, Victoria

This family home was designed to the highest energy efficiency standards to minimise auxiliary heating requirements. Low embodied energy materials were used at every opportunity. Water supply and wastewater treatment are autonomous.

The project is a four-bedroom family home on a gentle sloping site in the Dandenong Ranges on the outskirts of Melbourne.

The site has spectacular views over the Clematis valley to the north and this was of prime significance in the design and siting of the house.

The building was to be designed to the highest energy efficiency standards to minimise auxiliary heating requirements in a climate where temperatures as low as minus 5ºC are experienced.

The design created a highly-insulated building envelope that steps along the contours of the north sloping site protected by an earth bermed wall to the south and opening to large areas of glazing to the north.

Location and Climate

The site covers approximately 4 hectares on a gentle ten-degree slope to the north-west. It was originally a tree plantation with 0.4 hectares cleared to form the house site. The remaining area was retained for commercial tree plantation.

An access road is situated to the north-east of the site where water, electrical and gas services are available.

No sewerage service was available. The elevation above sea level means that site temperatures are several degrees cooler than in Melbourne, ranging from minus 5ºC in winter to the high 30s in summer.

Prevailing winds are from the south-west in winter and the north-west in summer. The internal temperatures are designed to fall between 18 and 25ºC. [See: 4.3 Orientation